Humidifying air vent



1? Fannie Aug. 7, 11923.

A. RAMSEY- HUMIDIFYING AIR VENT Filed Aug. 5, 1920 tam? llti

Patent Aug. i923.

P A I HUMIDIFYING AIR VENT.

Application med August 5, 1920. Serial No. sonata I Tocllwhomz'tmaconcern:

Be it known t at l, ALLAN RAMSEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica. and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Humidifying AirVents, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates primarily to humidifying air vents for steamradiators, but is not limited thereto, for it also relates to methodsand devices in general adapted to supply steam for humidifying the atmosphere.

The main objects of my invention are to provide an improved andsimplified form of attachment or vent of the character stated, adaptedto prevent or minimize the condensation of steam passing therethroughand to edectually prevent theleakage of Water of condensation, shouldany be formed, as upon turning on the steam; to provide inthe passagewayof an air vent a fluid-pervious material, wall or diaphragm adapted topermit thegradual escape of air, as usual in such devices when the steamis turned on, and then steam thereafter; to provide for collecting inthe vent attachment whatever moisture may at first be con densed andthen evaporating the same by heat from dry steam and from the wall ofthe vent; to provide such a device adapted to permit the restricteddischarge of steam, without noise, spitting or sputter, into the room orspace heated by the radiator, sumcient to produce that degree ofhumidity in the air which is necessary for living comfort or for aparticular use of the space; and to provide such a vent of rigid unitarycharacter and free of moving parts, adapted to permit air to flow backinto the radiator when the steam is turned ofi.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a steam radiatorequipped with one form of my improved vent.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another embodiment of my improved vent.

Fig. 3 is mainly a horizontal section greatly enlarged on the line 3-3or Fig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a similar view on the line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 55 0i. Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:-

Reterring to the drawings, my improved humidifying air vent is shownattached to a steam radiator 1 of the usual form, having a steam supplyvalve 2, and having a threaded perforation at 3 to receive thecorrespondingly threaded stem of the humiditying air vent. For thepurpose of illustrating my invention, T have shown two forms or stylesof vents, indicated by the numerals 4 and 5 respectively. The vent 5shown in Figs. 2, tend 6 includes an L-shaped body part 6 of elongatedtubular form, a. diaphragm or closure wall 7 of fluid pervious structureand preferably rigid disposed across the outer end of said vent, and aclamping ring 8 for securing the member 7 in place. The vertical outerpart 9 of the tubular passageway is enlarged somewhat relative to thehorizontal part 10, in order to provide for a retardation plate 7 orlarger size and capacity than could be accommodated otherwise. A shallowcup-like receptacle 1]. is provided above the diaphragm wherein anymoisture which may be condensed when the steam is turned on maybe'collected and retained until evaporated by heat subsequentlytransmitted thereto by the outflowing steam. Any condensation occurringbe low the plate 7 runs back into the radiator.

Referring to the vent 4 shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, this embodimentcomprises a straight elongated tubular body 12 threaded adjacent to itsouter end to hit the radiator hole 3, a porous fluid retarding wall .13at or adjacent to its inner end, and a capillary linmg 14 extendingpreferably from said wall to the outer end of the tube 12.

It is to be noted that the inner end of the vent member projectshorizontally well into the interior of the radiator, whereby it isreadily heated to the full temperature of the steam. This feature initself lessens the common tendency of such attachments to causecondensation and leakage of water.

The operation of said vent i shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 is as follows:When steam is supplied to the cold air-tilled radiator, the

air is first forced out through the fluid pervious member or porousplate 13. followed when the air is nearly all expelled by a mixture ofsteam and air, and later by dry steam. When the steam or mixture ofsteam and air b i stnpassthro .1... splate there llllh occurs a slightcondensation of steam on the surface of the plate and on the inside ofthe tube 12 and its capillary linin 14. TlllS water is held by thelining untl dry steam operation of vent 4 except that the water ofcondensation below the porous plate 7 runs back into the radiator, whilethat upon and above the plate is held in the cup 11 until itstemperature is raised above the condensation point by the escapingsteam, whereupon the water is evaporated and passes out into the airwith the dry steam coming directly from the radiator. When the steam isturned off air gradually flows into the radiator and.

prevents avacuum being forrned;by the condensation of the steam.

' Various materials may be used for the fluid pervious members or plates7 and 13, but I have found carbon to be well adapted for the purpose.The plates are to advantage made of various thicknesses, and beinginterchangeable, any desired degree of re tardation may be attained.

The absorbent lining 14 of Fig. 5 may well be made of wire gauze or thelike.

It is to be understood that the applica tion or use of m invention isnot limited to radiators, for t e vents, may obviously be attached toany source of steam.

Being interchangeable with ordinary air valves my dripless diaphragmvents are peculiarly adapted for household use. It is also adapted foruse in ofiices, public buildings, factories, kilns of various sorts asfor instance in drying varnishes, in cotton mills and wherever airmoistening is desired.

Although but two specific embodiments of this invention are herein shownand described, it is to be understood that some of I the details of theconstructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifying air vent com rising a tubular body threaded exteriorlyor application to a source of steam, in combination with a hard, rigidplate disposed across the opening through said tubular body, a saidplate being of porous character and adapted to permit restricted escapeof air and steam under ordinary radiator pressures.

2. A steam radiator in combination with a humidifying air vent, thelatter comprising an elongated tubular body projectin well into theradiator chamber for quick an effective heating and having a durableporous memberdisposed across the passageway, .WhlCh member is adaptedfor the gradual escape of air or steam under ordinary radiatorpressures. y

3. A humidifying air vent comprising a tubular body threaded exteriorlybetween its ends for application to a steam chamber ,in combination withan interchangeable porous air and steam transmitting carbon closuremember disposed across the tubular passageway, and a threadedlockingring to secure said member in place.

Signed at Chicago this 3rd day of Aug,

ALLAN RAMSEY.

